New Orleans Travel Essentials

Though traveling is a blast, sometimes packing for big trips can be a bit nerve wracking. And as I'm sure many of you guessed by my post earlier this week, I'm heading down to New Orleans for one kick ass summer vacation before I head back to class at Point Park University! So, in light of getting ready for my vacation and packing (though I'm totally doing it at the last minute due to my crazy work schedule lately--yikes!) I figured I'd share all my travel essentials for my eight day trip with all of you. So let's pack our bags and get to exploring!

First Things First: What You Need at the Airport & For On Your Flight

Though most of these items are common sense, I personally am always a bit over prepared and always keep a check list of the important things I absolutely need to have handy when I arrive at the airport. So, think of this as your "traveling basics" check list, and make sure you definitely have ALL of these items before leaving your house!!

Checklist before departing:

-Plane ticket (duh, but you'd be surprised how many times I've had to turn around to grab my phone because I forgot it at my house)

-Liscense, I.D., or Passport

-Medical card (just in case!)

-Phone

-iPad, tablet, laptop, and other electronics

-Chargers for all electronics

-Camera & battery charger (yeah, this could go under electronics, but I'm a photographer let me have this one)

-Glasses or contacts (for those of you who are like me and are blind without them!)

-Sunglasses

-Reading material

No, I Didn't Wake Up Like This: Beauty Travel Essentials  

Let's be honest, not even Beyoncé wakes up flawless . And for many of us (myself included) the stress of traveling increases when we start to think: "Oh my god, they don't have my hair care routine in travel size, or my face wash, or--wait, no, they don't even have any brands I like in travel size!" Well, don't fret, (because if you're anything like me you didn't just think of picking up travel size containers to pack your essentials--thanks mum.) because next up is the complete list of anything you could possibly need for beauty and personal care while on vacation!

Beauty & Personal Hygiene Checklist:

-Travel sized bottles (found at Walmart)

-Travel sized mouth wash

-Travel sized toothpaste

-Toothbrush

-Face wash

-Any other face care products (in my case, I use Differin Gel)

-Face Moisturizer

-Chapstick

-Travel sized deodorant

-Travel sized sunscreen

-Travel sized body wash

-Shaving razor

-Travel sized body lotion

-Small bottle of perfume

-Pads, panty liners, and/or tampons

-Any medications (birth control, allergy medicine, etcetera)

-Hair dryer

-Hair straightener

-Brush

-Hair ties

-Foundation (My go to is bareMinerals original)

-Versatile eye shadow palette (My go to is Maybelline's City Minis Palette) 

-Mascara (My go to is CoverGirl Plumpify) 

-Eye liner (My go to is Revlon's basic black eyeliner pencil) 

-Blush (My go to is "My Rose" by Dior)

-Blending sponge (check out this one from RealTechniques, I love mine!) need link to article + product

-1-3 different shades of lipstick

-Travel kit of makeup brushes (check out this one from RealTechniques, it is my go too!) 

 Last But Not Least: Clothes For Vacation 

Even though I pretty much covered my top favorite outfits for vacation in my last Style Guide post, I figured I would throw in a few extra suggestions along with the ones I already made Monday! And I mean, this is a style blog after all, so what would this post be with out some fashion essentials?

Clothes & Accessories:

-8 pairs of bras and underwear (two strapless bras included in this!)

-2 sets of pajamas

-2 sets of workout clothes (sports bra, tank, and shorts sets)

-2 tee shirts

-2 camis

-4 pairs of shorts

-2-3 nice dresses (e.g. For a date night or a girls night out)

-1 maxi dress

-4 pairs of socks

-2 pairs of sandals

-1 pair of versatile comfy shoes

-1 pair of heels

-1 pair of sneakers (in my case running shoes)

-Large purse to travel (for on the plane-- need one? Check out my go to travel bag here!) 

-Small clutch or bag for evenings out or out exploring the city you are visiting (Need one? This one is my favorite from my sponsor SheIn) 

-SmartWatch, Apple Watch, Fitbit, or other fitness tracker (Need one? This is the one I have, and though it was a cheap buy, it works great and I love it! You can get others like it here.) 

-1 Dress watch

-1-3 different pairs of earrings

-1-3 different bracelets

-1-3 different necklaces

So, what are some of your main travel essentials when packing for a big trip? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Want updates on my vacation in The Big Easy? Be sure to follow me and check my story on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic. Later babes, see you on the 27th with an outfit of the day once I'm back from vacation!

Xx, Bree

P.S. I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

The Fort Lauderdale Chronicles: Spring Break 2017

Much like every blogger, I obviously love my blog. It's my baby, my creative outlet, and I have worked so hard over the past two years to make it the success it is today, so obviously I cannot see myself ever just giving it up. However, that kind of hard work (especially while juggling classes and a job) also entails many caffeine fueled, sleepless nights, writers block, and frustration which leads to a meltdown or two similar to Fiona Gallagher's from Shameless last season: 

Yes. I look just like that, aside from the fact I definitely do not look as pretty while crying, how does Emmy Rossum do it? Anyways, jokes aside, as much as I love my blog, when I get to that state of frustration, it reminds me to step back, relax, that I am only human, and believe it or not, I need a break. And as I am sure many of you know from past posts, I ended up doing just that, and actually had a break for spring break--which is why I was M.I.A. for four days. And man, was it liberating!

You see, normally when I go to Florida to visit John he is still dealing with his classes and I am perpetually busy with my blog, so though we spend time together, we also spend a lot of time working along side each other too. Which means I always end up bringing my laptop, iPad, my million and one post-it notes, and all my stress. Well this time, since my beau was actually on spring break too, he decided I needed an actual vacation and planned a romantic seaside getaway for us in Fort Lauderdale. His only condition was that I had to leave all of my work at home and enjoy myself. At first it was odd because I honestly wasn't quite sure how I would cope not working for a few days, but as soon as I saw the beautiful inn John picked out for us to stay in, I was thrilled and just knew that this was in fact the break I needed. And after having four gorgeous days just relaxing with my man, I have to say I came back home feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and inspired to get back to work here! And even though I've already done a few posts since I returned, this one is a bit different simply because I've decided it would be nice to share some of my more personal details with you guys, so here are some of the highlights from John and I's trip!

Snaps & Such

Though I did bring my Leica with me on this trip and took a few professional grade photographs for this post, there were points in our vacation where I wasn't so much focused on shooting, but just having a good time. However, while strolling along the board walk and stopping at my favorite restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Lulu's Bait Shack, I was armed with my iPhone and here are a few of my favorite candid moments that I snapped!

Pretty palm trees on the board walk.

View from Lulu's Bait Shack.

Not quite sure why there was a dummy of Castro on the street, but it gave John and I a laugh regardless.

Town center in Fort Lauderdale.

First ever trip to IHOP!

The Sea Side Inn

Next up, John got us a room in this nifty little seaside hotel, Lauderdale By The Sea. The hotel itself had more of a mum and pop or B&B feel, but it was lovely on the inside and had a gorgeous court yard which was great for enjoying our morning cups or tea and coffee.

Outside view of our hotel and the court yard.

Though the hotel looks tiny from the outside, it was actually quite spacious and homey on the inside.

I just loved the little work station complete with a live plant.

Comfy and cozy beds with a vintage photograph of Lauderdale By The Sea back in its early days.

One thing that I was very excited about, is that this hotel had a complete kitchen along with this cute little breakfast nook! 

Lastly, the bathroom of the room was cute and spacious as well, and the little sign just gave John and I a chuckle.

Funky Buddha

Next up, John treated me to lunch and drinks at the Fort Lauderdale brewery, Funky Buddha. For those of you who have never been or heard of Funky Buddha, it is a brewery with a huge selection of in house beers and a tapas menu. It's quite the laid back place and is definitely the place to go on a lazy Sunday afternoon to just hang out and enjoy a couple brews.

Just outside of the brewery.

As I stated earlier, I really love the laid back vibe of Funky Buddha, as well as their chill atmosphere.

It's also a bonus that Funky Buddha's beer and tapas selection is excellent!

Casual Date Outfit

For John and I's casual date to Funky Buddha, I decided on a more whimsical and relaxed out fit, because I was on vacation after all! So I paired my Victoria's bikini top with my white criss-cross cami from Fascino, my Oliver Goldsmith sunnies, some high waisted shorts from ModCloth, a basic tan leather bag, and my black flats.

And to add the finishing touches to this outfit, I paired it with gorgeous Delilah Druzy neckace by SLATE. The reason I chose this necklace is because I felt the blue stones added a nice but subtle pop of color to this outfit.

A Perfect Moment

Lastly, on John and I's way home from the hotel, I decided to snag a photograph of this barn because the lighting was absolutely gorgeous. The story behind it though is, in order to get this photo, I actually ended up having John pull off the freeway. So we ended up having a little adventure of our own.

If you can't tell from this article, I had an absolutely wonderful time over my spring break! I just can't thank John enough for putting this all together for us, as well as just being an outstanding human being. If you're reading this Affection Rabbit, I love you and you are just the best!

So, did any of you travel anywhere exciting for spring break? If so, let's chat about your adventures in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a sweet photo from your travels? Feel free to tag me in your post or Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, In case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

The Importance of Home (Feat. Modern Map Art)

As I'm sure you've all noticed, I have been gearing up for my upcoming trip to see John for our mini spring break vacation. And even though that is the main thing I am anxiously awaiting, I am also super stoked because once I return, I will be taking on a different type of project, and that would be completely revamping my room (and wardrobe, but more on that later in the next few months). With that being said, though I will still predominately be posting articles about style and beauty, I am excited to announce that in the upcoming weeks my blog will be featuring some more lifestyle and travel pieces too! So, to kick it off, I'm thrilled to share my latest collaboration with the California based company, Modern Map Art, and show you guys the lovely map I received from them. And the map is of no other than my beloved hometown, Pittsburgh.

Modern Map Art

For those of you who have not heard of the company, Modern Map Art, allow me to give you a brief overview. The company began when the site's owner, Jennifer, returned from her honeymoon last year where she was fortunate enough to travel all over the globe. This experience gave Jennifer so much inspiration that she decided to combine her love of travel and her interest in maps into one, and that is how Modern Map Art was born. And I have to say that these nostalgic map prints are an absolutely great decor piece.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

As I have mentioned in some past posts, though I adore travelling and know that eventually I will probably call another city home, Pittsburgh will always hold a special place in my heart. This little city is the one where I spent my childhood, earned my education, and ultimately found my start. This place has shaped me more than I could ever explain and for that it will always be a piece of me, which is why I was so happy to receive a print to commemorate the love of my hometown.

The reason I liked this print so much isn't only because it is a map of my hometown, but because I loved the elements of the city that Jennifer highlighted, specifically the three rivers which are colored gold. The reason I liked this touch wasn't only for the pop of color, but for anyone who is familiar with the 'Burgh, you know that we love our black and gold, which are the colors of our beloved sports teams. I also like how modern yet simplistic the map is, making it an interesting conversation piece when I have guests over. The only thing that I wish was included on this map, would be just some markings as to where the major landmarks are (e.g. Point State Park, PNC Park, Heinz Field, and the inclines to name a few) but perhaps that is just due to my love and nostalgia of the city that I have called home for almost a quarter century. But don't get me wrong, that doesn't make me love this print any less.

To be honest, growing up and throughout college, I wasn't much for decor, I always kept my living space very plain and simple, with barren walls and minimalistic furniture. Perhaps that is because I never felt as grounded in my life as I do now, but as of recently I have definitely acquired an appreciation for small, decorative house plants, as well as meaningful trinkets and art. And though my room is far from where I want it to be (Yep, there is a revamp post coming as soon as it is done!) I felt decorating my one completed wall with this modern map print was a great start! To style this print, I placed it on one of my dressers and surrounded it with a few of my favorite knickknacks (if you can't tell, I really like elephants) and honestly I love waking up every morning and looking at the outline of the city that has molded me into who I am today, it's truly a great feeling.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I am very happy with my print from Modern Map Art and would highly recommend doing business with them if you are looking for a map of one of your favorite cities or a custom creation to decorate your home.

Are there any cities that you have a special connection with? I'd love to chat, so tell me all about the place you call home in the comments below or tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have an awesome photo of your hometown or city that you wanna show off? Feel free to tag me in a post or on your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree